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Since January 2013, 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver has A) caused a national stir by making anti-gay comments; B) had a career-worst performance in a Super Bowl loss; C) sustained a torn ACL and D) been arrested on misdemeanor hit-and-run charges and felony possession of brass knuckles.

And you thought you’d had a rough 20 months.

With their cornerback corps dotted with question marks, the 49ers need Culliver to make some positive headlines this summer. After Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown signed with the Raiders in the offseason, Culliver and Tramaine Brock are projected to be season-opening starters.

Brock, who signed a four-year, $14 million extension last year, has seven career starts. Culliver, a No. 3 cornerback in his first two seasons, has zero career starts. Behind them the options include fourth-round pick Dontae Johnson and free-agent signee Chris Cook, a 2010 second-round pick who has doesn’t have an interception in 29 career starts.

Before his ACL tear sidelined him for the 2013 season, Culliver was arguably the 49ers’ most effective cornerback during the 2012 regular season. More than a year later, however, the former third-round pick must prove he’s back at full strength, and can avoid more off-the-field issues.

The 49ers’ secondary will be tested this season: It will face six of the quarterbacks who finished among the top eight in passer rating last year, a list that includes Dallas’ Tony Romo, Denver’s Peyton Manning and New Orleans’ Drew Brees.